Crown Equity Holdings Inc. is publicly traded with the symbol CRWE. The Company primarily provides and offers advertising, branding, marketing solutions and services to boost customer awareness, as well as merchant visibility as a worldwide online multi-media publisher. For list of services offered click here

Quest Diagnostics Inc. (NYSE:DGX) offers the most extensive clinical testing network in the U.S. The Company's extensive test menu includes routine biological testing; complex and specialized molecular and gene-based testing, and anatomic pathology testing. These services primarily help identify disease or risk factors for disease and predict and monitor response to treatment.

Change City

The National Infrastructure Commission has published its second report: Transport for a world city.

10 March 2016 - In October 2015, the National Infrastructure Commission was asked to review the strategic case for additional large scale transport infrastructure in the capital and its region, with particular reference to proposals for a new north-east to south-west ‘Crossrail 2’ line.

The Commission’s central finding, subject to the recommendations within the report, is that Crossrail 2 should be taken forward as a priority.

Funding should be made available now to develop the scheme fully with the aim of submitting a hybrid bill by autumn 2019. This would enable Crossrail 2 to open in 2033.

Transport for a world city makes practical recommendations to this end:

Firstly, sufficient development funds should be released for Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) to prepare a hybrid Bill for Crossrail 2, beginning with a revised business case to be submitted by March 2017

Secondly, in developing the business case, it is crucial that TfL and DfT identify clear proposals to maximise its benefits and increase deliverability. They should:

Identify proposals to phase costs and increase affordability – one option would be to delay the north-western branch to New Southgate, which could reduce costs of the initial scheme in the 2020s by around £4 billion.

Deliver a funding plan in which London contributes its fair share to the project – more than half the total for the scheme.

Develop a strategy to maximise private sector involvement in the development and funding of stations and their surrounding areas.

Develop a strategy to ensure the construction of at least 200,000 homes along the route.

Subject to these recommendations, the aim should be for a hybrid bill should be submitted by autumn 2019, and the line should be opened in 2033.

Lord Adonis said:

"By the 2030s London will be a megacity of more than 10 million people. Even allowing for planned investment and the imminent arrival of the East-West Crossrail line, the capital will grind to a halt unless significant further improvements are made.

"That’s why London needs Crossrail 2 as quickly as possible. A new North-East to South-West line would help relieve severe overcrowding across some of the busiest Network Rail stations in the country, and the most congested Underground lines and overground commuter routes.

"The Commission has identified four crucial ways in which the scheme can be developed to ensure that we maximise benefits and increase deliverability: phasing parts of the scheme, fair funding with London paying more than half the cost, private financing to help build stations and, crucially, a clear, transformative strategy to turn the proposed 200,000 new homes into a reality.

"There is no good reason to delay. Crossrail 2 will help keep London moving, create hundreds of thousands of homes and fire regeneration across the city form North-East to South-West. We should get on with it right away, and have the line open by 2033"

Transport for a world city: in brief

By 2030 London is likely to reach megacity status, with a population exceeding ten million. Even allowing for planned investment much of its transport network will be under severe pressure, and there is already an acute housing shortage.

In this context the National Infrastructure Commission has been asked to examine proposals for significant new public transport infrastructure in London.

The Commission’s central finding, subject to the recommendations made in this report, is that Crossrail 2 should be taken forward as a priority.

Funding should be made available now to develop the scheme fully with the aim of submitting a hybrid bill by autumn 2019. This would enable Crossrail 2 to open in 2033.

Part 1: preparing for the 2030s

Current and proposed transport investment, including on the Underground network and Crossrail 1 (the ‘Elizabeth Line’), is essential. But more will be needed.

The commission has identified four specific challenges from the late 2020s: crowding on key Underground lines, lack of capacity on commuter service rail routes and at major Network Rail stations, insufficient orbital links particularly in east London, and the need for transport to promote significant housing growth within and around the capital.

Congestion is forecast to be especially acute on north-south Underground lines, commuter rail services in the south-west, and at major Network Rail stations on these routes.

Part 2: developing the plan

Faced with these challenges, a second Crossrail line, running south-west to north-east, is a priority for London and its region.

Crossrail 2 will provide a new central London artery linking the suburban railway network in the south-west to lines in the north-east via a brand new tunnel from Wimbledon to Tottenham Hale. This relieves or reinforces major suburban and Underground lines and a string of Network Rail’s busiest stations, whilst opening up new areas for housing and regeneration.

Part 3: from development to delivery

Considerable work has been done to develop the case for Crossrail 2. This report recommends four steps to develop the scheme further:

identify proposals to phase costs and increase affordability

develop a strategy to unlock significant housing growth

deliver a funding plan in which London contributes its fair share to the project

maximise private sector involvement in the development and funding of stations and their surrounding areas

Following a resolution on the areas above, the aim should be for a hybrid bill to be submitted by autumn 2019 – the first step towards the railway opening in 2033.

The modelling done by TfL and contained in the report shows that Victoria, Northern and Central lines have sections where crowding is causing operational difficulties in the 2030s. (TfL modelling, National Infrastructure Commission: Transport for a world city report – Annex A p68).

The number of passenger kilometres travelled in crowded conditions will increase 50% by 2031. (TfL modelling, National Infrastructure Commission: Transport for a world city report – page 18).

Waterloo, Victoria and Clapham Junction – already some of the busiest stations in the UK are all expected to see passenger numbers increase by 40% by 2031. (TfL modelling, National Infrastructure Commission: Transport for a world city report – page 25).

Need for transport to promote significant housing growth within and around the capital

No other proposed scheme addresses so many of London’s strategic needs. Crossrail 2 could:

Provide vital relief for the congested southern end of the Northern Line and for the Victoria Line through north-east and central London. These are forecast to see much of the highest levels of crowding anywhere on the Underground, after the opening of Crossrail 1.

Provide an alternative route, via its connection to Crossrail 1, from south-west London to the City and Canary Wharf, reducing passenger numbers on the overcrowded Waterloo and City line and the eastern part of the Jubilee Line.

Relieve capacity constraints on the critically over-crowded south-west London commuter lines coming into the capital through Wimbledon, Clapham Junction and Waterloo by providing an alternative route for inner suburban services via a new tunnel from Wimbledon into Central London.

Reduce terminal congestion at the UK’s busiest station, Waterloo, as well as cutting crowding levels at Clapham Junction, Vauxhall and Wimbledon, all of which are forecast to face insuperable operational difficulties due to the volume of passengers at peak hours.

Provide four tracks on the West Anglia Mainline to enable faster services on the London-Stansted-Cambridge Corridor.

Link with Euston / St Pancras, to provide onwards dispersal for those arriving into London from the north on HS2, which is planned to be completed to Manchester and Leeds in 2033.

Stimulate new housing, jobs and development along the whole route. In particular the line will transform access to the Upper Lee Valley Opportunity Area – one of the largest in London.

Establish a turn-up-and-go level of service at a range of underserved destinations allowing for regeneration around transport hubs in Hackney, Haringey, Enfield and Tottenham.

Unlock 200,000 homes, provided the right planning framework is applied

Recommendations in full

Recommendation 1

Crossrail 2 should be taken forward as a priority with the aim of opening in 2033, subject to the recommendations below.

Recommendation 2

Crossrail 2 should be at the heart of the new London Plan, alongside existing commitments to upgrades and other pieces of new infrastructure. Crossrail 2 should not, subject to affordability, prevent the development of other high value schemes, particularly where alternative funding mechanisms are available.

London must continue to plan strategically for the period 2030-2050 through the next iteration of the London Plan. Crossrail 2 should be at the heart of this strategy and TfL’s wider programme of smaller scale interventions on the national rail, road, Underground and cycling networks in London should be integrated with it to complement and enhance its benefits.

The London Plan should also include a detailed examination of the scope to deliver other strategic projects, such as further east London river crossings and the Bakerloo line extension, through alternative financing mechanisms. This should build on the precedents from the Silvertown Crossing and Northern line extension to Battersea/Nine Elms.

Recommendation 3

Sufficient development funds should be released in order for TfL and DfT to submit a revised business case for Crossrail 2 by March 2017 and aim to introduce a hybrid bill by autumn 2019. The revised business case should include developed plans on costs, funding, housing and stations. TfL estimates the overall development cost at c.£160 million, to which TfL should be expected to make a reasonable contribution.

Recommendation 4

In developing the business case, it is crucial that TfL and DfT identify clear proposals to maximise its benefits and increase deliverability. The costs of Crossrail 2 are high and therefore every opportunity should be taken to improve its affordability.

The updated case should include detailed options to reduce and phase the costs of the scheme. The most promising option identified to enhance affordability would be to delay the construction of the north-western branch to New Southgate. This could reduce the costs of the initial scheme in the 2020s by around £4 billion. More work should also be done on the costs and benefits of individual central London stations.

If construction of the north-western branch is delayed, this would also provide the opportunity to consider the case for an eastern branch from Hackney as an alternative.

Recommendation 5

A ‘London deal for Crossrail 2’ funding agreement, through which London contributes more than half the costs of the scheme and which includes substantial measures to realise the full housing benefits, should be agreed ahead of hybrid bill submission.

It is vital that a funding package for Crossrail 2 is developed which strikes a fair balance between the contributions made by London taxpayers and businesses and by central government. This should build on the work already undertaken by TfL, which indicated that around half the cost of the project could be funded from London sources.

The government should work with TfL and GLA to explore new funding options, which could include consideration of further devolution. However, even without such devolution, HM Treasury should be in a position to recoup significant receipts from the added Gross Value Added (GVA) benefits and the rising value of property in London.

A London deal for Crossrail 2 will need to cover both the funding of the project and the planning measures required to deliver Crossrail 2’s benefits.

Recommendation 6

TfL and DfT in conjunction with other government departments and relevant bodies, should use the next stage of development to set out a clear, transformative plan to turn the proposed 200,000 homes into a reality.

Strong measures to maximise the new housing enabled by the scheme should be included in the ‘London deal for Crossrail 2’ – this could include the establishment of one or more development corporations to lead the masterplanning and delivery of new housing and urban realm provision, and revised planning guidance for the whole route. These measures should be considered as a potential model for improving housing delivery more widely.

For housing provision to be a success across the whole route, the London deal for Crossrail 2 will need to have buy-in from the GLA and London boroughs along the route as well as counties and boroughs outside of London which benefit from the new line. All parties will need to ensure the housing unlocked by Crossrail 2 is sustainable and meets the needs of Londoners and those in commuter regions around London.

Recommendation 7

The opportunity should be taken to maximise private sector involvement in the development and funding of stations and their surrounding areas.

TfL and DfT should leverage private sector capital and expertise to develop selected Crossrail 2 stations, including both the stations themselves and the surrounding land. Development could also be supported by land purchase powers and the ability to assemble sites.

Recommendation 8

Following the submission of a revised business case and agreement on the conditions above, the aim should be for a hybrid bill to be submitted by autumn 2019 – the first step towards the railway opening in 2033.

Submission of a bill in 2019 would allow significant progress to be made on the passage of a bill before the end of this parliament.

Completion of the project in 2033 would allow the project to open in time for the planned arrival of HS2 phase 2 at Euston.

Source: Gov.uk (Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.)

The news, reports, views and opinions of authors (or source) expressed are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of CRWE World.